Chennai: The Railways has announced a brand-new Chennai – Nagercoil – Chennai Vande Bharat express and this can be of great help to Malayali passengers. The train, which will be flagged off on August 31 is likely to benefit the passengers to Kerala’s southern districts, especially Thiruvananthapuram. They could get down at Nagercoil and take a bus back home or travel to Kerala in private vehicles.
Easy to reach Kerala The new Vande Bharat will run services on all days except Wednesdays. The train that departs Chennai Egmore station at 5 am will reach Nagercoil by 1.50 pm.
The return journey begins at 2.20 pm and reaches Egmore at 11 pm. This train will stop at Vizhuppuram, Tiruchirappalli, Dindigul, Madurai, Kovilpetti and Thirunelveli stations.
The bookings for the new Vande Bharat train haven’t opened yet but it is likely to begin soon. Even though the train from Nagercoil to Kerala is only in the evenings, the passengers can reach home by road. This train would be helpful for Keralites, especially when the tickets on the trains from Chennai via Palakkad and in the KSRTC buses are sold out.
Thirunelveli route Meanwhile, in the Vande Bharat from Chennai to Thirunelveli, tickets are available only on September 11. Besides, only eight seats remain vacant in the chair car. The tickets booked on the following days are still on the waiting list.
This train starts from Chennai at 2.50 pm and reaches Thirunelveli by 10.40 pm.
The passengers could then catch the Palaruvi Exp.